Reverential Reception For Dan Fogelberg

By Joel Selvin
August 23, 1977

Without much fanfare, singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg has quietly-almost secretly-ascended to stardom in the past few years.

Although he has released four albums, none could be described as large hits.  His records are played frequently, but not heavily, on FM radio, and less frequently on AM stations.

Nevertheless, Fogelberg attracted 8000 reverential fans to UC-Berkleys's Greek theatre, only about 1000 seats short of sold out.

Based in Colorado, Fogelberg is a singer-songwriter of the "sensitive" school.  His music deals with homespun sentiments about life, love and the great outdoors.  Dark-haired and bearded, the singer had little to say to the audience and, overall, was reserved and quiet enough to make Neil Young look like a dynamo onstage.

Fogelberg divided his performance into two halves; the first acoustic segment was capped by a surprise appearance by flutist Tim Weisberg, with whom Fogelberg is recording an album.  For the second half, he was joined by his back-up band, Fool's Gild, who opened the show with their own performance.

On his own, Fogelberg managed to hold the audience pin-drop still although they exploded in cheers with the introduction of each new song.  When joined by the band, Fogelberg and his seven-piece back-up fired up the crowd with some pleasant Eagles-style instrumental and vocal sounds.

Fool's Gold is actually composed of singer-songwriters Tom Kelly and Denny Henson, backed by a four-piece unit.  The group has recorded two albums on their own, and their performance Sunday was marked by the exquisite vocal harmonies of the two leaders, whose voices melded together in a sum greater than its parts.  With Fogelberg, the harmonies were even more effective.

With a painted backdrop depicting a pastoral valley scene with a rainbow hanging behind him, Fogelberg was given an extraordinary reception.  Young female fans carefully and politely made their way to the front to snap a few pictures, before returning in an orderly fashion to their seats.  There was an awed hush over the crowd during his acoustic numbers, performed either on piano or guitar.

Fogelberg's sweet, high voice is capable of turning corners with a kind of yodel.  Otherwise, his vocal style proved unremarkable.

Folksier than the Eagles and easier to understand, Fogelberg plows some of the same musical rows as the residents of Hotel California, which may not be so surprising, considering the two act share the same management.